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don’t go to court. I’m a corporate lawyer. I negotiate deals.”
    â€œSo how long have you been a lawyer?”
    â€œAlmost seven years. As a matter of fact, I just made partner today.”
    â€œToday? That is amazing, Will! Congratulations!” Will had been congratulated many times that day, but this was the one that made him feel the best because there was no qualifier, no personal history to take into account.
    â€œThanks. So, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what are you doing hitting the clubs alone?” Will surprised himself with his liquored directness. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
    She noted his forwardness with an arched eyebrow. “No, not really. There was a guy back in Moscow, but that ended when I came here. So what about you?”
    â€œI have a few friends I can call up for dinner or a movie, but nothing to get excited about.”
    â€œWell, if you can’t get excited, there is no point, right?” Katya tried to be deadpan, but she couldn’t suppress a crooked little smile. At that moment, Will knew how the evening had to end.
    Will looked around the room at the couples wrestling on the adjoining couches. “Would you like to get out of here?”
    Katya lifted herself out of the couch. “I must get home. Securities dealers start early. Markets open at six thirty and I have to be in by eight thirty.”
    â€œWhere do you live?”
    â€œNot far from here. I’ve got an apartment off Polk Street on Russian Hill. And no Russian Hill jokes, please.”
    â€œI didn’t say anything.”
    â€œIt’s not too far. I can catch a cab outside.”
    â€œI’m headed that way. How about if we share a cab? I can see you to your door.”
    â€œThat is very sweet of you. Sure.” Will felt that he and Katya were like chess players, both looking several moves ahead, barely concentrating on the current maneuvers.
    It was eleven thirty and the club was shifting into high gear as Will and Katya made their way through the bar, heading for the door. The suit-and-tie crowd from the financial district was now gone, replaced by resplendently funky club kids.
    The city seemed unnaturally quiet when they emerged onto Fillmore Street from the noisy club. Accustomed to shouting to be heard, Will felt tentative now, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
    They walked quickly down Fillmore to California Street and caught a cab. During the short taxi ride, they filled the pauses with the smallest of talk, comparing the weather in the Bay Area and Ukraine. As they drew closer to Russian Hill, the silences grew longer.
    Finally, the cab stopped in front of a three-story Victorian on Pacific Street. It was simultaneously charming and a bit run-down, like so many San Francisco apartment buildings where the landlord knows that he has an inexhaustible supply of young tenants.
    Katya twirled and pointed to the building like a game show hostess revealing a prize. “What do you think?”
    â€œVery nice.”
    Katya gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
    â€œCan I come up?” he asked.
    She paused. “Not tonight. Too soon. But I hope you’ll give me a call. Equilon Securities. It’s in the book. You were very sweet to see me home.”
    They said good night, and he watched her enter the building. He kept the cabbie waiting for a moment as she made her way to her apartment, and he watched the light come on in a second-floor window.
    Then the curtains opened to reveal Katya, who saw him standing on the lawn looking up at her. It was hard to tell because she was in silhouette, but he sensed that she was smiling.
    After a moment, she pushed the window open and leaned out, tossing her key chain at his feet. Marveling at his good fortune, he dispatched the cabdriver and picked up the keys.
    He climbed the stairs and the door opened before he could knock.
    â€œI just want you to know that I am breaking rules for